§ 33. The Metropolis of Bukovina-Dalmatia

Given the difference that exists between the two Dalmatian eparchies on the one hand and the Bukovinian eparchy on the other, both in historical and in national respect, the sources of law by which they are governed are likewise different and particular. Common to them all is only

The Synodal Statute, confirmed by state authority on 21 August 1884.[1] This statute speaks first of the composition of the metropolis of Bukovina-Dalmatia, then of the metropolitan synod—of whom it is composed, when and where it convenes, what its competence is, and what special rights belong to the metropolitan.

Besides this synodal statute there exists no other legal source common to the two Dalmatian eparchies and to the Bukovinian one—rather, each has its own sources separately, namely for the Bukovinian eparchy:

The Organization of Spiritual, Church and School Affairs for Bukovina, drafted in August 1781 and confirmed by the Emperor Joseph II on 29 April 1786. This organization is divided into five principal sections, of which the first treats of the church fund and of the clergy, the second of monks, the third of nuns, the fourth of the constitution of the consistory and its operation, and the fifth of the schools.[2]

The Organic Statute for the Administration of the Religious Fund, confirmed by imperial decision on 18 March 1870.[3] This statute was issued on the basis of its founding institution of 18 December 1820. It contains: I. provisions on the internal organization of the administration of this fund, and II. on the competence of the fund.

The Monastic Rules.[4] These are the same rules that the Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci, Vikentije Jovanović, issued in 1733, only in a somewhat modified form.

The Church Organization drafted and confirmed by imperial decision on 23 December 1843.[5] This organization is composed on the basis of the general organization of 1786.

The Consistorial Statute for the Bukovinian eparchy, confirmed by imperial decision of 2 February 1869.[6] After the general regulations, this rule-book speaks of the competence of the eparchial authority, and first of the affairs on which the eparchial bishop personally decides, then of the affairs subject to consistorial decision, further of proceedings within the consistory, of procedure in cases of recourse, and of the conduct of consistorial affairs when the episcopal see is vacant.[7]

For the Dalmatian eparchy:

The Consistorial Statute for the Orthodox Dalmatian eparchy, confirmed by imperial decision of 24 August 1870.[8] This statute is identical with that for the Bukovinian eparchy, save as concerns the Bukovinian religious fund, and in that under this statute the administration and oversight of the theological institute belongs personally to the bishop, whereas under that one it belongs to the consistory. In consequence of the imperial decision of 13 January 1894, § 3 of this statute was modified in that the consistory, under the direction of the eparchial bishop, is now composed of: the consistorial archimandrite, as the bishop’s vicar, two regular salaried and four honorary assessors.

The Parochial Organization, arranged in 1852 and confirmed by imperial decision of 28 July 1853.[9]

The Monastic Rule, drafted on the basis of the rule of Metropolitan Vikentije Jovanović,[10] and issued for the Dalmatian monks by decision of Bishop Jerotej Mutibarić of 6 November 1844.

Rules for the Pastoral Assemblies, issued 10 January 1891.[11]

The Organic Statute of the Zadar Theological Seminary, drafted on the basis of the imperial decision of 5 June 1869 and issued 4 March 1898.[12]